December also started off quiet enough -- the first 11 days of December were warmer in the upper atmosphere than the first 11 days of June. We were even treated to one of the most spectacular cloud displays you'll ever see when these incredible lenticular clouds formed over Mt. Rainier:

But the month sure didn't end that way. The region's greatest period of cold and snow in a generation began on Dec. 12, and didn't let up until just after Christmas. I'm putting together a separate story on the snowstorm that will be published in the coming days and linked to from here. But for now, here are the past stories:

Overall, average temperatures were...about average to perhaps a bit below, thanks to the cool spring and December arctic blast. We were way behind on rain though -- Seattle looks to finish up about 7" below normal, while Forks was nearly 15" below normal.

Seattle set four record highs: 79 on April 12, 90 on May 17, 90 on Aug. 14 and 62 on Nov. 7, and tied three others -- 84 on May 16, 91 on June 28 and 60 on Nov. 19. We set two new record lows -- 22 on Dec. 14 and 19 on Dec. 15, and tied five others, including a 14 on Dec. 20.

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When I saw this dramatic cloud to the north, it reminded me of smoke, rising in billows until it hits the jet stream, then it's pulled hundreds of miles east. I had to capture it quickly. Within minutes the effect had faded.

For my girlfriends birthday we had a party at her parents. We knew the nest was there but the owner hadn't seen or heard the osprey for a day or two. He asked me to fly my drone up and see if any was wrong. I flew up and found that there were two eggs inside.